1. Modern mission

2. Noted more than once

3. History of the symbols

4. No way to help

5. A noble idea

6. All sorts of help

7. United strength

8. Sources of financial support

A. Logically enough, the emblem of the Red Cross is a red cross on a white background. This image was first used in 1863, and it is basically a reversal of the Swiss flag, which is a white cross on a red background. Beginning in the 1870s, the Ottoman Empire started using the Red Crescent as the name and emblem for its branch of the Red Cross, reflecting its Islamic beliefs. Today, the Red Crescent is recognized by 33 Islamic nations.

B. All monies used by the International Committee of the Red Cross are received as donations from governments, public institutions, and private individuals. The organization’s annual budget exceeds 1 billion Swiss Francs. The majority of funding comes from Switzerland and the United States, with significant contributions also coming from European countries and the EU. Private donations are often received at times of local, national and international emergencies, such as the tsunami disaster in southeastern Asia in 2004.

C. Today the Red Cross has approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff, working worldwide. The many organizations associated with the Red Cross are legally independent of each other, but they often work together to provide help to people in time of military conflict and natural disaster.

D. The idea for the International Committee of the Red Cross came to Swiss businessman Henry Dunant in 1859. He was travelling in Italy on business, when he witnessed a terrible military battle in which thousands of men died and were wounded. When he realized that the wounded men were not receiving medical care, he organized the local residents to help men on both sides of the conflict. Three years later the Red Cross was officially founded.

E. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize three times, in 1917, 1944 and 1963. The first two prizes were awarded for the organization’s work during the first and second world wars. The third prize was awarded on the occasion of the Red Cross’s 100th anniversary.

F. Many people around the world know the Red Cross primarily because of the help it gives people locally. For example, the Red Cross sponsors local blood drives, where people donate their blood. This blood can then be used to save the lives of people with medical emergencies. Local Red Cross offices also collect food and clothing and household goods to give to people who are forced to leave their homes after natural disasters.

G. During both World War I and World War II, the International Red Cross worked tirelessly to monitor prisoner-of-war camps, to help civilians caught in the conflicts, and to maintain lists of refugees and missing persons. Tragically, the Red Cross failed to reach an agreement with Nazi Germany regarding its concentration camps and therefore was unable to help the millions of people who died during the war.